Phototypographic machine



May 19, 1959 H. H ORMAN ET AL PHOTOTYPOGRAPHIC MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1956 INVENTORS Harold Horman Edward Rondthcler ATTORNEYS May 19, 1959 H. HORMAN ET AL 2,387,024

' PHOTOTYPOGRAPHIC MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H m mf h 0&8 R mm Y m M R d vmm m MM 9 HM 1A E, Y B

y 19.59 H. HORMAN \ETAL 2,887,024

PHOTOTYPOGRAPHIC MACHINE Filed Feb 21, 1956 s Sheets$heet s INVENTORS Harold Hormun BY Edward Rondfhuler United States Patent PHOTOTYPOGRAPHIC MACHDTE Harold Herman, North Tarrytown, and Edward Rondthaler, Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.

Application February 21, 1956, Serial No. 567,004

4 Claims. (CI. 95-45) I The invention relates to machines for setting type photographically in which lines of type are composed from a: negative onto a photo-sensitized material by means of contact photography.

. The invention has for its object the provision of a phototypographic machine that is compact, inexpensive and easy to use yet one which will permit unskilled operators to produce highly accurate work at a high rate of speed.

Briefly and in general, the applicants invention comprises a machine adapted for use with a phototypographic negative stencil, a spacer to position the various letter elements as the type isbeing composed and an exposure lamp to expose the letters of the negative onto a photosensitized sheet of material. A supporting surface on the machine is provided with a movable surface to which the photo-sensitized material may be secured, as for example, by adhesive or by other suitable fastening means. There is provided over the movable surface suitable guide means adapted to receive both the negative stencil and the spacer which, in conjunction with the stencil, aligns each letter in the lines of type being composed. The

guide means are adapted to maintain the spacer in parallel relationship with the stencil and to permit relative movement therebetween. Preferably, the movable surface for the photo-sensitized material is movable transversely with respect to the guide means and, accordingly, is moved transversely with respect to the negative stencil whereby various lines of type may be successively composed. Suitable light shielding means are placed over the movable surface for the photo-sensitized material and, in the'preferred form of the invention shown and described, constitute an upper stationary light shield and an intermediate light shield that is movable with respect to the stationary light shield and which carries on its supper surface a plurality of scales. Means are provided on the movable surface whereby the intermediate light shield may be secured thereto from time to time and, when so secured, be movable therewith.

I'Suchmeans may preferablycomprise a .pair of pressurers'ensitive adhesive pads positioned adjacent eachend of the movable surface. Thus, when the intermediate light -fshield is pressedinto contact with these pressure-sensitive pads, the movement of the photo-sensitized material with respect to the negative stencil may be measured by means of the scaleon the intermediate light shield having reference to the lower edge of the upper stationary light shield.

for the movable surface-pref- ;lnclined with respect to the horizontal.

open slot so as to illuminate the spacer and the stencil and thereby facilitate the alignment of the letters to be composed. A suitably colored translucent shield is pro- "ice vided over the opening so as to filter the light and prevent it from exposing the photo-sensitive material.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the applicants invention showing the general arrangement of the various parts;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the upper surface of the machine shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a side view of Figure 2 taken along the line 3-3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

v Figure 4 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 44 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 taken along the line 55 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring'now to the drawings for a detailed description of a preferred and illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is shown in Fig. 1 a casing generally indicated by the numeral 10 comprising a slightly inclined upper surface or face 12, a pair of generally triangular shaped sides 14 and a back 16. Each of the sides 14 is provided with a pair of rubber feet 18 and secured to the back 16 of the machine is a bracket 20 which holds a tubular conduit 22 for the electric cord 24 to the exposure lamp 26. A hook 28 is provided on the tubular conduit 22 and holds the exposure lamp 26 whenever it is not being used.

The machine is adapted to be used in connection with a phototypographic stencil 30 upon which the various letters 31 of the alphabet are arranged in two series according to the frequency of use of the letters in the English language; each series being arranged in alphabetical sequence. Adjacent each long margin of the negative there is provided a transparent strip 29 having a series of converging lines 33 by which each letter is positioned in the text, the amount of spacing between adjacent letters being controlled by a spacer 32 having movable reference indicia which intersect the converging lines at various points so as to vary the spacing between the letters.

Guide means 34 are provided to receive both the stencil 30 and the spacer 32. Preferably, the guide means 34 comprise an opaque sheet of material 36 which is secured, at each side, to a strip 38 of similar material mounted at the sides of the upper surface 12 ofthe casing 10 and which act as shims and provide a clearance space 40 between the upper surface 12' and the material 36. At its uppermost end the material 36 is folded under along the line 42 and then reversely folded along the line 44 (see Fig. 4) so as to provide a channel 46 for the lower edge of the spacer 32. Additionally, the upper portion of the guide'means 34 is formed by a transparent sheet 'of material 48 which extends under the upper portion 50 of the material 36. The transparent sheet 48is 'reversely folded, as at 52 and 54, so as to form anupper channel 56 for the spacer 32 and a channel'58 for the lower edge of the stencil 30. Immediately adjacent the channel 58 for the stencil 30 there is provided a transverse member 60 which acts as a contact platen and supports the stencil and the photo-sensitized material when the two are pressed'together during the photographing operation. i

A movable surface or carriage 62 to which the photw sensitized material is secured is positioned betweenthe members 38 and at the starting position, usually extends downwardly to approximately the lower edge of the lower light shield 36 thereby completely underlying the shield 36, the guide means 34 and the contact platen 60. Preferably this movable surface is formed from a transparent assegoea 3 material and is provided with wire springs 64 which ride in tracks formed in the members 38. Movement of the supporting surface 62 is effected by means of rollers 66 rotatably mounted in brackets 68 secured to the surface 62 which contact the tippersurface 12 of the casing through openings 63 in the surface. By rotating the roller 66 with the thumbs, the operator may accurately move the surface 62 transversely with respect to the guide means 34 for the stencil 30.

At its upper end the machine is provided with a stationary light shield 70 which is fixed to the bar 72. An intermediate or middle light shield 74 is also provided and positioned to cover the movable surface 62 between the contact platen 60 and the stationary light shield 70. This latter light shield 74 has its edges 76 folded over the edges 78 of the light shield 70 so as to provide guide means for the shield 74- which is movable with respect to the shield .70. Movement of the light shield 74 is eifected by securing the shield to the movable surface 62 and to this end the surface 62 is provided with a pair of pressure-sensitive adhesive pads 80 to which the light shield 74 may be pressed. Thereafter movement of the surface 62 moves the light shield 74. Since the movement of the surface 62 also results in movement of the photo-sensitized material 84, the movement of the material may be measured by means of scales 82 printed on the upper surface of the light shield 74 when used in conjunction with the lower edge 84 of the stationary light shield 70.

Underneath the inclined surface 12 and on the inside surface of the back 16 there is located a source of illumination such as a fluorescent tube 86 and its housing 88. The tube 86 is connected in series with the exposure lamp 26 and both are controlled by a switch 90 mounted at one side of the machine. An inclined reflector 91 extends downwardly from the inclined surface 12 adjacent an opening 92 in the surface. Opening 92 is located underneath the guide means 34 and contact platen 60 so that the light from the fluorescent tube 86 illuminates the stencil 30 and spacer 32. A transparent amber light filter is positioned to cover the opening to prevent the light from exposing the photo-sensitized material.

The operation of the device is as follows: The operator inserts a sheet of photo-sensitized material underneath the guide means 34, over the contact platen 60 and under the middle light shield 74. The material is then secured to the movable surface or carriage 62 by adhesive tape 94 or any other suitable means. Stencil 30 and spacer 32 are then inserted in their respective channels 58, 46, 56 in guide means 34. After properly positioning the stencil the first letter is exposed by the operator by placing the exposure lamp 26 over the stencil and exposing the letter onto the photo-sensitized material. The spacer 32 is moved to cooperate with the lines 33 on the stencil, thereby indicating the position of the space boundary of that letter. The process is thereafter repeated for each succeeding letter until a line of text has been composed.

To move the photo-sensitized material upwardly so as to compose a second line of text the operator observes the following procedure: The middle light shield 74 is pressed down onto the pressure-sensitive adhesive pads 80 on the surface 62 and secured thereto. The operator then rotates the rollers 66 with his thumbs until the carriage 62 has moved the required distance.

This is determined by means of the scales 82 on the middle light shield 74 with reference to the lower edge 84 of the upper light shield 70. The second line of. text may then be composed in the same manner as the first.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the primeciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

We claim:

1. Phototypographic apparatus for printing on photosensitized material, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a translucent surface to which the photo-sensitized material is secured, a stationary transparent guide means positioned over the photo-sensitized material and having adjacent guide channels disposed parallel to the top of the photo-sensitive material, an opaque stencil having transparent characters thereon disposed in one of said channels and having thereon means for aligning the characters, a spacing guide disposed in another of said channels and having thereon reference means to cooperate with the aligning means on the stencil and space the characters on the photo-sensitized material, said stencil and spacing guide being slidable in said channels, a light source underneath the translucent surface to illuminate the stencil and the spacing guide, and a variably positionable exposure lamp for exposing the photosensitized material through the transparent characters on the stencil.

2. Phototypographic apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having means for removably fixing reference indicia to the translucent surface, a stationary index intercepting said reference indicia means, and means for moving the translucent surface transversely to the guide means whereby additional lines of characters may be printed on the photo-sensitized material.

3. Phototypographic apparatus for printing on photosensitized material, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a translucent surface to which the photo-sensitized material is secured, a stationary transparent guide means positioned over the photo-sensitized material and having adjacent guide channels disposed parallel to the top of the photo-sensitive material, one of said channels being adapted to receive slidably an opaque stencil having transparent characters thereon and having means for aligning said characters, a spacing guide disposed in another of said channels and having thereon reference means to cooperate with the aligning means on the stencil and space the characters on the photo-sensitized material, said spacing guide being slidable in its said channel, a light source underneath the translucent surface to illuminate the stencil and the spacing guide, and a variably positionable exposure lamp for exposing the photo-sensitized material through the transparent characters on the stencil.

4. Phototypographic apparatus for printing on photosensitized material, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a translucent surface to which the photo-sensitized material is secured, a stationary transparent guide means positioned over the photo-sensitized material and having an adjacent guide channel disposed parallel to the top of the photo-sensitive material, said channel being adapted to receive an opaque stencil having transparent characters thereon and having thereon means for aligning the characters, said channel being adapted to permit said stencil to slide therein, a light source underneath the.

translucent surface to illuminate the stencil, and a variably positionable exposure lamp for exposing the photo-sensitized material through the transparent characters on the stencil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

